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Abstract

To the editor: We read with interest the paper of Hoofnagle and associates (1) on clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) after reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronic infection during cancer chemotherapy. The authors suggest that drugs inducing such a phenomenon be considered in the treatment of chronic HBV infection.

Between 1969 and 1973 we conducted a therapeutic trial of chronic active hepatitis with intermittent courses of cyclophosphamide, 100 to 200 mg/d up to 4 to 5 g, repeated at 1 to 3 month intervals. In about half of the cases clinical improvement was seen (2, 3). A